All Wheel Drive — Design Description

FORD SCORPIO vehicles are also equipped with permanent all-wheel drive. Front wheel drive requires additional mechanisms The front wheel drive is connected to the transfer case using a cardan shaft. The cardan shaft drives the front axle differential, which is connected to the front wheels by two shafts.

In order to equalize the different angular speeds of rotation of the front and rear wheels, for example when cornering, vehicles with permanent all-wheel drive are equipped with a transfer case (center differential), located between the differentials of the front and rear axles. The transfer case consists of a drive chain, a planetary gear with sun and ring gears, and a viscous coupling. With different grip of the wheels with the road surface, the viscous coupling is blocked, and, due to this, the different angular speeds of rotation of the wheels of the front and rear axles are automatically aligned. At the same time, 34% of the traction force is transmitted to the front axle, and 66% to the rear axle. A small difference in speeds is equalized, while the greater the difference in frequencies, the more the viscous coupling is blocked. As a result, when the rear wheel slips, the traction force on the front wheels increases.

The transfer case is flanged directly to the gearbox and is driven from the gearbox output shaft by a chain. The transfer case has a separate lubrication system. Gear oils are monitored or replaced accordingly during scheduled maintenance.

Repair work on differentials must only be carried out by a workshop.